In defense of young diocesan priests

Jesuitical

In the first episode of season eight of “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley critique a general perception that younger priests are more conservative and rigid in their pastoral ministry. Joining them to discuss the countercultural decision to join the diocesan priesthood is the Rev. Wade Bass, a young priest who serves as pastoral administrator at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Allen, Tex., a suburb of Dallas.

They discuss:

- Father Wade’s call to the priesthood, experience in seminary and love of the liturgy

- The daily life and duties of young diocesan priests today, the joy and positive energy among younger priests, and the risks of loneliness and burnout

- The extent to which the ministry of these priests is—or is not—impacted by theological and ideological debates within the church

In Signs of the Times, Zac and Ashley discuss Pope Francis’ apostolic journey to Asia; a lawsuit from the Diocese of Paterson, N.J., over a new procedural change by the United States government regarding the processing of green cards for foreign-born priests; and the tragic execution by Hamas of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose mother, Rachel, appeared on Jesuitical in November 2023.

Links from the show:

Pope Francis begins the longest trip of his papacy yet despite age and mobility issues

Mother of a Gaza hostage on keeping faith after Oct. 7: ‘It doesn’t make sense. And I still believe.’

Diocese sues immigration agencies over rule change that could force thousands of foreign-born priests to leave

U.S. Catholics are more liberal. Young priests are more conservative. Can the synod help us overcome our divisions?

Why Pope Francis is worried about seminaries and young priests with ‘authoritarian attitudes’

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